Heidi’s Research: What does “suffering” even mean?
To jump right in with an example of what I’m working on now which may be of interest to you is that of what “suffering” even means. If my dissertation is going to be on the value of suffering, then I must begin by identifying what I mean by “suffering.” I’ve discovered that there are many different accounts of suffering and three main categories for these accounts: Value-based accounts, feelings-based accounts, and objective accounts. Value-based accounts are those which say that suffering is based on what you value: i.e., that you don’t want it to be occurring because of what it is that you value (e.g., your health, a relationship, a job, etc.). Suffering on value-based accounts is experienced (i.e., you know it is occurring).
Conversely, on objectivist accounts, it is possible to suffer and be unaware of it. Suffering, for the objectivist, pertains to one’s flourishing being diminished (i.e., that there is an objective fact of the matter for what it is for human beings to flourish but that the person who is suffering is not flourishing). For example, it seems safe to assert that a drug addict is not flourishing (and, therefore, is suffering). Yet do they know they are suffering. Sometimes, yes, but sometimes, no. No doubt, you can think of other examples.
The value-based accounts have intuitive appeal, since they are what most of us think of when we think of “suffering.” However, what about those who are suffering who don’t realize it? Furthermore, what about babies and animals who lack the cognitive ability to think, “I don’t want this to be happening”? They are excluded on value-based accounts, and yet, most would acknowledge that they can, indeed, suffer.
On the other hand, my claim that suffering is often valuable might require the person be aware of their suffering for it to result in any value. So, I’ll likely need to create my own hybrid account of suffering: one part which can allow for those who cannot express they do not want their pain to continue, either because they do not know it is occurring, or because they do not know they are an “I,” and another part which allows for the common, intuitive understanding of suffering. Stay tuned!
My goal in future newsletters is for my section to be shorter than this, so please do not fear! Additionally, my goal is for the newsletter to be quarterly or bi-monthly at most to not overload your inbox. Thank you, once again, for your interest in and partnership with me on this journey. I am grateful for you.